HCCH Monthly Update: September 2020
Membership
On 7 September 2020, Nicaragua and Thailand were issued with certificates confirming an affirmative vote in favour of their respective admissions as Members of the HCCH, following a six-month voting period which ended on 4 September 2020. Both Nicaragua and Thailand are now each invited to deposit an instrument of acceptance of the HCCH Statute to become a Member of the HCCH.
Conventions & Instruments
On 12 September 2020, the HCCH 1965 Service Convention entered into force for Austria. It currently has 78 Contracting Parties. More information is available here.
On 16 September 2020, Serbia signed the HCCH 2007 Child Support Convention. The next step for it to enter into force is for Serbia to deposit its instrument of ratification. More information is available here.
On 28 September 2020, the United Kingdom deposited its instrument of accession to the HCCH 2005 Choice of Court Convention and its instrument of ratification of the HCCH 2007 Child Support Convention. The United Kingdom is currently bound by both Conventions by virtue of the approval of the EU, and they will continue to be applicable until 31 December 2020. Both Conventions will then enter into force on 1 January 2021, ensuring a seamless continuity in operation. More information is available here.
On 30 September 2020, Belgium deposited its instrument of ratification of the HCCH Protection of Adults Convention, which now has 13 Contracting Parties. More information is available here.
Publications & Documentation
On 2 September 2020, the Proceedings of the Twenty-First Session were published online. The series contains all the minutes and working documents of the Twenty-First Session of the HCCH, during which the HCCH 2007 Child Support Convention was concluded. It also includes relevant documents from the preparatory Special Commissions and the preliminary studies carried out by the Permanent Bureau. It is published in bilingual form, with English and French texts appearing side by side. It is available for download here.
On 22 September 2020, the Explanatory Report on the HCCH 2019 Judgments Convention was approved following a two-month silent approval procedure during which no Member of the HCCH raised an objection. This report, prepared in both English and French, reflects the discussions and consensus-based negotiations leading to the adoption of the Convention, and, although non-binding in nature, will serve as an important and authoritative resource in the implementation, operation and interpretation of the HCCH Judgments Convention. More information is available here.
These monthly updates are published by the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), providing an overview of the latest developments. More information and materials are available on the HCCH website.